Best Italian Sponge Cake With Vermouth Lemon Custard Recipes

ITALIAN SPONGE CAKE (PAN DI SPAGNA)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 355 degrees F/180 degrees C. Generously butter and flour an 8-inch/20 cm round cake pan and set aside. Place eggs and granulated sugar in a large bowl and slightly beat with a hand whisk.
• Continue to whisk and bring the bowl over a bain-marie/water bath to warm the mixture up to 104 degrees F/40 degrees C (warm to the touch). Remove the bowl from the bain-marie/water bath and beat the eggs/sugar mixture with an electric mixer until the volume is doubled for about 12 to 15 minutes. Add sifted flour and mix with a rubber spatula.
• Pour the dough into the prepared pan and bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Check the readiness of the biscuit with a toothpick or a cake tester: once it comes out clean out of the sponge, the biscuit is ready.
• Let it cool for 10 minutes in the oven off (keep the door slightly open using a wooden spoon) to prevent deflating the sponge cake. Next, remove the sponge from the oven, let it cool for the other ten minutes. Then remove it from the pan by flipping it upside down and cool on a cooling rack, also known as a wire rack.

ITALIAN SPONGE CAKE / PAN DI SPAGNA

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 320F (160C) Grease and flour an 8 inch (20 cm) cake pan (springform if you have one).
• In a medium bowl sift together the flour and corn starch. Set aside.
• In a large bowl or stand up mixer add the eggs and sugar and beat for 15 minutes, add the vanilla and beat another 2 minutes.
• Gently fold half the sifted flour into the beaten eggs and combine, then add the remaining flour and gently fold until smooth and completely combined. Pour into the prepared cake pan and bake for 30-35 minutes. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes then move to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!

VICTORIA SPONGE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Generously grease two 8 by 3-inch or 20 by 8cm round cake pans, then line them with greased parchment paper.
• In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter on high speed until creamy and smooth, about 1 minute.
• Turn the mixer speed to medium-low, add the superfine sugar and vanilla to the butter, and mix until incorporated. Then turn the speed to medium-high and beat until very light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Scrape the bowl often.
• Turn the speed to low and add the eggs, one at a time, beating just until combined. Scrape the bowl after each addition.
• Add one-third of the flour to the butter mixture and mix on low speed, just until incorporated. Repeat with another one-third flour until just incorporated. Add the final one-third flour. It will be a thick batter.
• Divide the batter among the prepared pans and smooth the tops using a small offset spatula. Gently tap the pans on the counter several times to release excess air bubbles.
• Bake until the cakes are golden and a tester comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 20 minutes, then remove from the pans and let cool completely on a wire rack.
• In a medium bowl, toss together the quartered strawberries, granulated sugar, lime zest, and pink pepper (if using). Allow to macerate until the sugar dissolves, about 15 minutes.
• Remove the parchment paper and place one cake layer on a serving plate.
• Spread the jam over the top of the cake, then cover the jam with a 1-inch or 2.5cm layer of the whipped cream. Distribute half the macerated strawberries over the whipped cream.
• Place the second cake on the whipped cream and dust the top generously with confectioners' sugar and decorate with whole and halved strawberries.
• This cake is best served right away, with the remaining macerated strawberries and whipped cream, but any leftovers can be stored, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.
• In a medium saucepan, combine the raspberries, sugar, and lemon juice and use a fork to break up the raspberries just enough to produce a bit of juice. Set over medium-low heat and simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring often.
• The jam is ready when it clings to a spoon and you can draw a line through the jam that doesn't immediately fill in. Remove from the heat and let cool thoroughly.
• Transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.
• In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the cream, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla and beat on medium speed (you read that right) until just thick-it will start to leave marks from the whisk in the cream.
• Remove the bowl from the mixer and, using the whisk attachment, continue whipping by hand for several seconds until the cream reaches the desired consistency; this way, you can ensure the mixer won't take it too far. Whipped cream is best used right away.